Adelaide’s Kayla Itsines named number one in the world of fitness by Forbes

Luke Griffiths, The Advertiser

April 11, 2017 2:23pm

AN American publishing powerhouse has named Adelaide’s Kayla Itsines as the world’s most influential fitness identity.

In its inaugural list of industry influencers, Forbes described the 25-year-old — who has a whopping 11.6 million Facebook followers and 6.7 million Instagram followers — as “the internet’s undisputed fitness queen”.

“And a multi-millionaire to boot,” it said.

media_cameraDO AS I SAY: Kayla Itsines in action in Melbourne late last year. Picture: Jeremy Simmons.

Their fortune has been amassed via a Bikini Body empire, which includes fitness classes being held across the world — more often that not in packed stadiums — book sales, and smartphone app Sweat With Kayla — last year’s most-downloaded fitness app globally, according to analytics firm App Annie.

media_cameraTobias Pearce and Kayla Itsines. pic Facebook

Those downloads generated $US17 million of revenue in 2016, according to Forbes.

“Left in charge of the Adelaide gym where she worked by an absent manager in the late noughties, the then-teen began developing a program to target what she saw as problem areas for women: abs, arms, and thighs.

“Itsines’ online presence remains relatable despite her fame and considerable fortune, much to the relief of her many millions of fans.

“She’s partial to the heart-eyes emoji, and in between fitness tips and photos of fruit plates or beach vistas, she posts motivational quotes.”

“It’s a community of women who just want to support each other and see each other do well,” she said.

Forbes ranked US online identity Jen Selter second behind Ms Itsines, describing her as someone “who went from the front desk at her gym to the leader of a booty-boosting workout movement”, and Australian Emily Skye in third position.

Eight out of top 10 were women — Joe Wicks and Simeon Panda ranked fifth and seventh respectively.